Here an unfinish'd di'mond crosslet lay,

To which foft lovers adoration pay;

There was the polifh'd cryftal bottle feen,
That with quick fcents revives the modish spleen:
Here the yet rude unjointed fnuff-box lies,

Which ferves the rally'd fop for fmart replies;
There piles of paper rofe in gilded reams,
The future records of the lover's flames;
Here clouded canes 'midft heaps of toys are found,
And inlaid tweezer-cafes ftrow the ground.
There ftands the toilette, nurfery of charms,
Compleatly furnish'd with bright beauty's arms;
The patch, the powder-box, pulville, perfumes,
Pins, paint, a flatt'ring glafs, and black lead combs.
The toilfome hours in diff'rent labour flide,
Some work the file, and fome the graver guide;
From the loud anvil the quick blow rebounds,
And their rais'd arms defcend in tuneful founds.
Thus when Semiramis, in ancient days,
Bid Babylon her mighty bulwarks raife;
A fwarm of lab'rers diff'rent tasks attend:
Here pullies make the pond'rous oak afcend.
With echoing ftrokes the cragged quarry groans,
While there the chiffel forms the fhapeless ftones;
The weighty mallet deals refounding blows,

Till the proud battlement her tow'rs enclofe.

Now Venus mounts her car, she shakes the reins And fteers her turtles to Cythera's plains; Strait to the grott with graceful ftep fhe goes, Her loose ambrofial hair behind her flows: The swelling bellows heave for breath no more, All drop their filent hammers on the floor; In deep fufpence the mighty labour ftands, While thus the goddefs fpoke her mild commands. Induftrious loves, your prefent toils forbear, A more important task demands your care; Long has the scheme employ'd my thoughtful mind, By judgment ripen'd, and by time refin'd. That glorious bird have ye not often feen Who draws the car of the celestial queen? Have ye not oft furvey'd his varying dyes, His tail all gilded o'er with Argus' eyes? Have ye not feen him in the funny day Unfurl his plumes, and all his pride display, Then fuddenly contract his dazzling train, And with long-trailing feathers fweep the plain? Learn from this hint, let this inftruct your art: Thin taper fticks muft from one center part : Let thefe into the quadrant's form divide, The fpreading ribs with fnowy paper hide; Here fhall the pencil bid its colours flow,

And make a miniature creation grow.

Let

Let the machine in equal foldings close,
And now its plaited furface wide dispose.
So fhall the fair her idle hand employ,
And grace each motion with the restless toy,
With various play bid grateful zephyrs rife,
While love in ev'ry grateful zephyr flies.
The mafter Cupid traces out the lines,
And with judicious hand the draught defigns,
Th' expecting loves with joy the model view,
And the joint labour eagerly purfue.

Some flit their arrows with the niceft art,
And into flicks convert the shiver'd dart ;
The breathing bellows wake the fleeping fire,
Blow off the cindars, and the sparks aspire;
Their arrow's point they foften in the flame,
And founding hammers break its barbed frame :
Of this, the little pin they neatly mold,
From whence their arms the fpreading sticks unfold;
In equal plaits they now the paper bend,

And at just distance the wide ribs extend,

Then on the frame they mount the limber skreen,
And finish inftantly the new machine.

The goddess, pleas'd, the curious work receives,
Remounts her chariot, and the grotto leaves;
With the light fan fhe moves the yielding air,
And gales, till then unknown, play round the fair.
Unhappy

Unhappy lovers, how will you withstand,

When these new arms fhall grace your charmer's hand?
In ancient times, when maids in thought were pure,
When eyes were artlefs and the look demure,
When the wide ruff the well-turn'd neck enclos'd,
And heaving breafts within the ftays repos'd,
When the close hood conceal'd the modeft ear,
Ere black-lead combs difown'd the virgin's hair;
Then in the muff unactive fingers lay,

Nor taught the fan in fickle forms to play.

How are the fex improv'd in am'rous arts,

What new-found fnares they bait for human hearts! Now love with fatal airs the nymph fupplies,

Her drefs difpofes, and directs her eyes.

The bofom now its panting beauty shows.
Th' experienc'd eye refiftlefs glances throws;
Now vary'd patches wander o'er the face,
And ftrike each gazer with a borrow'd grace;
The fickle head-drefs finks and now aspires
A tow'ry front of lace on branching wires.
The curling hair in tortur'd ringlets flows,
Or round the face in labour'd order grows.

Olympus' gates unfold; in heav'ns high towers Appear in council all th' immortal powers;

Great Jove above the reft exalted fate,
And in his mind revolv'd fucceeding fate,
His awful eye with ray fuperior shone,
The thunder-grasping eagle guards his throne ;
On filver clouds the great affembly laid,
The whole creation at one view furvey'd.

But fee, fair Venus comes in all her state,
The wanton loves and graces round her wait;
With her loose robe officious zephyrs play,
And ftrow with odoriferous flowers the way:
In her right hand she waves the flutt'ring fan,
And thus in melting founds her fpeech began.

Affembled powers, who fickle mortals guide,
Who o'er the fea, the skies and earth prefide,
Ye fountains whence all human bleffings flow,
Who pour your bounties on the world below;
Bacchus firft rais'd and prun'd the climbing vine,
And taught the grape to stream with gen'rous wine;
Induftrious Ceres tam'd the favage ground,

And pregnant fields with golden harvests crown'd;
Flora with bloomy fweets enrich'd the year,
And fruitful autumn is Pomona's care.

I first taught woman to fubdue mankind,
And all her native charms with drefs refin'd:
Celestial fynod, this machine furvey,

That fhades the face, or bids cool zephyrs play;

If